Unforgiveness and Unloving; Do not die with either on your soul!

Unforgiveness and Unloving; Do not die with either on your soul!

O, how horrible to keep either of these dark entities deep within our precious bodies that are the make-up of our souls; the Temple of the Holy Spirit!

Do we understand how much damage can be perpetrated on another human being when for any reason they have done you wrong and caused so much irreparable damage to your very being?  Yet, we are the one who in spite of their anger for even the smallest infraction is responsible for holding an evil revenge on their soul and without being forgiving will destroy our own soul.  

That is the most direct and truthful power we have over someone who needs the mercy that only you can stand as a forgiving judge and ask God to forgive them completely.  Consider if God would have stood as our judge if he would’ve refused to forgive even the most heinous sin against him; it would have been the end of humanity and the Incarnation of Christ would not have occurred.

As generous as God is for the most envious and vengeful manner we use to control our own pride, the Lord of heaven said, “And God looked at everything he made, and he found it very good.”  (Gn1: 31).  When the potter finds a flaw in the clay he made his choice was not to destroy it, but allow it an opportunity to exist with an unblemished creation.  

This is mercy for everything that is created good.  We cannot change that philosophy of giving everyone as well as everything the opportunity to exist and make its way through the life God gave and learn to live with the mistakes some make and still share each other’s weakness as brothers and sisters.  

Listening to some flaunt their anger and hatred against another person for any reason becomes like a nauseating feeling that says, “I am perfect and if they cannot do it my way then they deserve to be hated.”  How can someone who was raised in the Church and was taught not to hate turn around and throw another person under the bus, so to speak, and wish them nothing but an evil existence?

I hesitate to tell them that if they die with either of these sins without seeking forgiveness from God and the very person that they have judged, their soul will become lost in eternity.  However, their future might change if I do warn them and my soul will be saved.  That is a constant concern for my ministry that this person must be warned.  

Perhaps I should use the scenario that Nathan used when confronting David; he said, “Judge this case for me!  In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.  The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.  But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.  He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.  She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.  She was like a daughter to him.  Now, the rich man received a visitor, but would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.  Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and made a meal for his visitor.”  David grew very angry with that man and said to Nathan: As the Lord lives, the man who has done this merits death!  He shall restore the ewe lamb four-fold because he has done this and has no pity.”    Then Nathan said to David: “ You are the man” !(2 Sam 12: 1 - 7).

How many of us, and perhaps even ourselves, have been in the same predicament taking advantage over another out of prideful selfishness.  When will the sense of superior attitudes become a waste and challenge us when the evil of self-interests over weaker people come to an end?

Ralph B. Hathaway